Letter-file.



No. 65|,254. Ptented lune 5,1900. A. KRAH.

LETTER FILE. (Application led Feb. ifi, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ARMIN KRAH, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,254, dated J' une 5, 1900.

Application letl'february 14, 1899. Serial No. 705,519. (No model.)

Tocll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARMIN KRAH, a citizen of the German Empire, residing at Berlin,in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Files; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and

, improve and simplify the construction and render more efficient the operation of the type of letter-files disclosed in said patents, to provide improved means for throwing open the two hingedy portions of the file when they are released, and to provide improved means for detachably holding said hinged parts in their closed position.

To these ends my invention consists in the features andin the construction,combinatiom and arrangement of part-s hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speci tication, wherein- Figure 1 is a view showing the back of my improved iile as seen from the interior. Fig.

2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line X X, Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are corresponding views illustrating a modiiication.

Referring to thedrawings, the referenceletter h indicates the wooden back of the letter-file, to the two sides of which are fastened the covers m m either by strips of leather or other iiexible or suitable means, so that the covers can be opened and closed like those of a book, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the draw- To the inner face of the wooden block is secured longitudinally a'metal plate g, having struck up centrally from its opposite end portions integral ears or lugs g', to which are pivoted by pins d and c two correspondinglyshaped sheet-metal plates c c. The outer free edges of said plates are rolled or beaded, as shown in Fig. 3, and in said edges are soldered or otherwise suitably secured tiling.- wires c and b, bent in the arc of a circle and of such length that when the le is closed the ends of the wires a and b will abut the plates c c". These wires are preferably rounded or pointed at their ends, so that the sheets of paper which are to be filed and which have been previouslyy perforated at the proper points may be readily slipped on the wires in the customary manner. Struck up centrally from the plate g are two perforated ears or lugs g",and in said lugs is fixed a pin g3. A coiled spring t isdisposed about the pin g3, and its oppositely extending endsv bear against the inner sides of the plates c and operate to automatically throw the latter open to separate the wires c and l?.

A lever it is pivoted by a pin p to lugs struck up from the plate g, and at the opposite sides of its inner end is bent or folded down to form triangular catches e e, which when the plates c are closed or folded toward each other engage offsets or inwardly-bent lips fw on the plates and hold the latter closed against the action of the spring t. A spring a3 is arranged beneath the free end of the le- `ver a and operates to automatically throw the catches ce into engagement with the lips zo w. It is obvious that when it is desired to place papers on or remove them from the wires Ct and b it is only necessary to depress the outer end of the lever u, whereupon the catches e will release the plates c", and the spring t will then operate to throw open said plates and separate the ends of the wires.

In Figs. 4 to 6 I have shown a slightly-modiied construction. As shown in said figures, the locking-lever u is provided on one side of its inner end with an extension a2, which is pivoted to the inner side of one of the plates c" by a pin p. said lever is formed with ,l an inwardly-extending hook-shaped catch ,eo/,which when the plates c are closed is arranged to engage the end edge of the adjacent plate c, and thus hold the said plates closed. The lever a' is caused to automatically engage and hold the plates closed by a coiled spring a4, one end of which is attached to the lever and the other The opposite side of l'OO end to a pin a5, fastened in the plate g. To open the plates, it is only necessary to depress the free end of the lever u', whereupon the catch le" slips ol'f from the lower or inner edge of the plate c" and releases the plates, upon which the spring 2 operates to throw open the plates.

Instead of pivoting the plates c" by two pins d c at each end, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, a single pin e' may be employed for the purpose, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.

Having described my invention, what I claim is l. In a paper-tile, the combination with back and two longitudinal plates hinged at their adjacent edges to said back and provided at their free edges with inwardly-extending paper-retaining prongs or wires, of a coiled spring arranged between the hinged edges of said plates and having oppositelyextending ends bearing against the inner sides of the plates and operating to throw the latter apart or open, and means for normally holding the plates closed, substantially as de scribed.

`2. In a papenile, the combination with a back and two longitudinal plates hinged at their adjacent edges to said back and proplate and hold said plates closed, substan tially as described.

3. In a paper-file, the combination with a back and two longitudinal plates hinged at their adjacent edges to the back and provided at their free edges with inwardly-extending paper-retaining prongs or wires, of a spring for throwing said plates apart or open, a lever pivoted to one end of one of said plates and provided with a catch arranged to engage the adjacent end edge of the other plate and hold said plates closed` and a spring operating to throw said lever into operative position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 1hand at Berlin, Germany, this 28th day of January, 1899.

ARMIN KRAH.

Witnesses:

VVOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPEP.. 

